NORTH Melbourne avoided a repeat of the Gabba debacle a fortnight ago by doing what it needed to against an inaccurate St Kilda in Hobart.

Coming off a great win against Hawthorn last Friday night — and looking to erase the horrors of losing a match to Brisbane it should have won a week earlier — the Roos were too slick for the Saints at Blundstone Arena to record a 59 point victory.

A five goal to nil opening quarter set the platform for the result, with the home side extending its margin at every change on route to a comfortable win.

Skipper Nick Riewoldt (1.3) and Rhys Stanley (0.1 and one out on the full) both missed set shots in the first term they should have converted while Riewoldt twice sprayed attempts in the second.

And when ruckman Tom Hickey marked strongly 20 minutes into the second quarter but hit the post from 20m out directly in front, the Roos whisked the ball to the other end of the ground where Lindsay Thomas marked and goaled to highlight the tale of the contest.

Riewoldt finally got his side on the board courtesy of a free kick just before the long change but it did little to halt the Roos momentum, who banged through the first three goals of the second half to kill off any thoughts of a comeback.

Ruckman Todd Goldstein (22 possessions, 39 hit-outs and two first quarter goals) was the architect for the Roos, constantly giving his midfielders first use of the ball at the stoppages in a superb performance.

On a dirty day for the Saints, David Armitage was the shining light with 30 disposals, 10 clearances, 11 tackles and two of his side’s goals, midfield warrior Lenny Hayes found the ball 24 times while in his first AFL game in 13 months Sam Fisher improved as the match wore on.

However basic skill errors continue to plague Alan Richardson’s men, although the coach acknowledged had they converted in front of goal when they controlled play in the second quarter, it could have been a different story.

“We have laid 82 tackles, we kept the Kangaroos to 23 per cent rebound, for a good part our endeavour and pressure was much better,” Richardson said.

“If we had converted a bit more of our own opportunity the scoreboard would have been much closer.

“Seven scoring shots and we kicked one, that hurts, absolutely. You need that reward.

“It is really frustrating, absolutely, but was what pleasing in that quarter given the start to the game was the blokes did something about it.”

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